Required Training

All faculty, staff, and students involved with the use of vertebrate animals in research, teaching, testing, or related purposes are required to complete the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) web-based training in animal welfare.

The CITI training is valid for four years from the date of completion. CITI will send reminders when it is time to retake the training.

Depending on the number of modules required, it could take several hours and multiple log-ins to complete. Passing score for quizzes is 70%. The components of the CITI training include:

Basic Courses

Working with the IACUC Course (for Investigators, Students, and Staff) THIS IS THE REQUIRED COURSE THAT MUST BE TAKEN

Specialized Species or Model Specific Courses (there are others, but these are the most common for UMaine research). In addition to the required “Working with the IACUC” course, select any of the specie specific courses that apply to your research.

Working with Mice, Family: Muridae Cricetidae

Working with Rats, Genus: Rattus

Minimizing Pain and Distress (module for studies that have the potential to cause more than momentary pain and distress in mice or rats)

Fill in the remaining (member) information. Remember to keep your log in and password for future use. NOTE: This section asks you for your role in human subjects research. Obviously, that wording is not applicable (and we’ve requested that it be changed). In the meantime, just imagine it says “your role in animal research” and select Principal Investigator, Co-Investigator, Student Researcher, etc.” When it asks which course you plan to take, choose “Lab Animal Welfare.”

Next, you will be asked to select one learner group based on your role. The Lab Animal section is Question #6. The basic course is “Working with the IACUC.” THIS IS THE REQUIRED BASIC COURSE. There are also options for those who conduct studies involving more than momentary pain and/or survival surgery. There are also species specific modules. While you need to take specie specific module(s) that apply to your research, YOU MUST TAKE THE BASIC COURSE OF “WORKING WITH THE IACUC.”

You may exit and re-enter the CITI site as often as needed to complete the selected curriculum. Each time you exit, your progress will be recorded, so that you can continue where you left off.

Once you have completed a course, you will be able to print out a completion report(s) from your learner’s menu. We suggest you print the reports and keep them on file. A copy is automatically sent to the IACUC Office, so you do NOT need to send copies.